LCI without cables?
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I haven't really ran across this so I wanted to ask. I was reading a thread regarding the new catalog for E60 accessories.
Inside the catalog I saw that the LED LCI tail lights is something you can get for your car. If you can buy these, this would imply that you are buying them for a pre-LCI car, what would be the point if you have a 08+ as they already have LCI taillights. I know if you want LCI taillights you would need bruces cable. Bruce is obviously not part of BMW and doesn't make cables for them, so what is the method BMW uses if you wanted to get LCI taillights working on PRE-LCI? BMW would not buy these cables. Is it possible to get them to work with a recoding? Kinda made me
Inside the catalog I saw that the LED LCI tail lights is something you can get for your car. If you can buy these, this would imply that you are buying them for a pre-LCI car, what would be the point if you have a 08+ as they already have LCI taillights. I know if you want LCI taillights you would need bruces cable. Bruce is obviously not part of BMW and doesn't make cables for them, so what is the method BMW uses if you wanted to get LCI taillights working on PRE-LCI? BMW would not buy these cables. Is it possible to get them to work with a recoding? Kinda made me
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From: Encino, CA
My Ride: 04 545i - Titanium Silver/Black, Sport pkg, Comfort Seats w/ Lumbar, Premium Sound, power rear sunshade, Adaptive Xenon Headlights, Steptronic, Park Distance Control, Fold down rear seats w/ski bag, Aux jack, 6-disk changer, puddle lamps...
Engine: Custom Remus cat-back exhaust w/chrome square tips, K&N Air Filter, Charcoal Filter Removed, Sprint Booster :-), 50/50 mix of 91+100 Octane, EuroRev ECU Remap (coming soon lol), Dinan High-Flow Throttle Body (coming soon...maybe lol)
Interior: Portable Sirius Stilletto 100 w/car kit, Garmin Nuvi 680 mounted below rear-view mirror, LCI-style I-drive knob, Dark Poplar Center Dashboard Trim.
Exterior: E60 forum clings, 5% rear tint, ACS roof spoiler (painted black for distinct look against limo tint), ACS trunk spoiler, ACS add-on front spoiler and rear apron (awaiting installation), "18 Black Staggered BeBeS Style OER (emergency replacement for cracked sport 124 rims), black kidney grill, white accessory lighting (including license and trunk lamps), Angel-eye upgrade, AIB xenon-matched fog lamps, AIB V3's on order, red rear reflectors
Originally Posted by tex_phil' post='890476' date='May 26 2009, 08:43 AM
I haven't really ran across this so I wanted to ask. I was reading a thread regarding the new catalog for E60 accessories.
Inside the catalog I saw that the LED LCI tail lights is something you can get for your car. If you can buy these, this would imply that you are buying them for a pre-LCI car, what would be the point if you have a 08+ as they already have LCI taillights. I know if you want LCI taillights you would need bruces cable. Bruce is obviously not part of BMW and doesn't make cables for them, so what is the method BMW uses if you wanted to get LCI taillights working on PRE-LCI? BMW would not buy these cables. Is it possible to get them to work with a recoding? Kinda made me
Inside the catalog I saw that the LED LCI tail lights is something you can get for your car. If you can buy these, this would imply that you are buying them for a pre-LCI car, what would be the point if you have a 08+ as they already have LCI taillights. I know if you want LCI taillights you would need bruces cable. Bruce is obviously not part of BMW and doesn't make cables for them, so what is the method BMW uses if you wanted to get LCI taillights working on PRE-LCI? BMW would not buy these cables. Is it possible to get them to work with a recoding? Kinda made me

Well it IS possible to do so and BMW would LOVE for you to do it their way. However, their way involves obtaining a new Light Control Module (LCM), LCI headlights (a required component with the new LCM), new cabling, the LCI tail lights, and programming. Of course, this will cost a wee bit more than the sub $1000 cost of using Bruce's cables. But the option is there...
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Originally Posted by tex_phil' post='890497' date='May 26 2009, 12:06 PM
Makes sense.
So with a LCI headlight conversion do you need a LCM for that too? Is it possible for bruce to make a headlight cable too?
If headlights were cheap like the tails, then everyone would have jumped on it and ask bruce for the cables. I'm sure you can try to contact him for a custom cable, but dont know if that would be worth it for him.
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From: Omaha, NE - USA
My Ride: MY07 525xi Silver Gray
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+1 ... the OEM retrofit cabling kit isn't that bad as far as for pricing around $35-$38 but the rest are $$$
Originally Posted by advancedlogic' post='890496' date='May 26 2009, 11:05 AM
Well it IS possible to do so and BMW would LOVE for you to do it their way. However, their way involves obtaining a new Light Control Module (LCM), LCI headlights (a required component with the new LCM), new cabling, and the LCI tail lights. Of course, this will cost a wee bit more than the sub $1000 cost of using Bruce's cables. But the option is there...
Contributors
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,712
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From: Encino, CA
My Ride: 04 545i - Titanium Silver/Black, Sport pkg, Comfort Seats w/ Lumbar, Premium Sound, power rear sunshade, Adaptive Xenon Headlights, Steptronic, Park Distance Control, Fold down rear seats w/ski bag, Aux jack, 6-disk changer, puddle lamps...
Engine: Custom Remus cat-back exhaust w/chrome square tips, K&N Air Filter, Charcoal Filter Removed, Sprint Booster :-), 50/50 mix of 91+100 Octane, EuroRev ECU Remap (coming soon lol), Dinan High-Flow Throttle Body (coming soon...maybe lol)
Interior: Portable Sirius Stilletto 100 w/car kit, Garmin Nuvi 680 mounted below rear-view mirror, LCI-style I-drive knob, Dark Poplar Center Dashboard Trim.
Exterior: E60 forum clings, 5% rear tint, ACS roof spoiler (painted black for distinct look against limo tint), ACS trunk spoiler, ACS add-on front spoiler and rear apron (awaiting installation), "18 Black Staggered BeBeS Style OER (emergency replacement for cracked sport 124 rims), black kidney grill, white accessory lighting (including license and trunk lamps), Angel-eye upgrade, AIB xenon-matched fog lamps, AIB V3's on order, red rear reflectors
Originally Posted by tex_phil' post='890497' date='May 26 2009, 09:06 AM
Makes sense.
So with a LCI headlight conversion do you need a LCM for that too? Is it possible for bruce to make a headlight cable too?
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From: Omaha, NE - USA
My Ride: MY07 525xi Silver Gray
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Headlights wiring are completely different ... the pre-LCI has 8 primary main pins plug + 4 2nd-ary mini pins plug (I think for the Adaptive) but the LCI use a single combined 12 pins plug (similar or identical to e9x 3-series) ... pre-LCI uses round pin/socket looking while LCI flat looking pin/socket ... in the wiring kit OEM BMW provide all the sockets, rubber grommets & plugs ... during conversion we have to cut the pre-LCI plug off then do individual wire crimping, feed it to the plug, plug the rubber grommet etc on each wire...
As for the taillights we have to run a single long wire from each rear corner to the LCM under the steering wheel. think the main reason the headlights + LCM are combo 'cuz the LCI has no 2nd-ary H7 hi-beam as it has been replaced by cornering lights (in the Adaptive version).
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=46834
As for the taillights we have to run a single long wire from each rear corner to the LCM under the steering wheel. think the main reason the headlights + LCM are combo 'cuz the LCI has no 2nd-ary H7 hi-beam as it has been replaced by cornering lights (in the Adaptive version).
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=46834
Originally Posted by advancedlogic' post='890506' date='May 26 2009, 11:11 AM
I think it may be plug and play for the head lamps. Because of the light rod technology with the LCI tails, the new LCM is needed if Bruce's cables (or similar) aren't used. The headlamps are aesthetically different, but I don't think that a new LCM is needed for them. But with the tails, the new LCM will look for LCI headlamps when coded. I'm not too sure about that though so maybe some others who have done the conversion can chime in.
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